Just a couple of decades ago, Windsor, Colorado was still a sleepy little town with one small main street, few services and limited housing. But the 2000s brought a booming population, and with it, award-winning restaurants, thriving new industries and a growing housing market.
Today, this community is one of the fastest growing towns in Colorado but it still maintains its small-town charm, supports its small businesses and celebrates its agricultural roots.
Today, we’re exploring a handful of the reasons you should consider living in Windsor—from the facts and the data to the amenities and culture. Enjoy!
1. It’s actually one of the best places to live in Colorado.
The combination of everything we’re about to discuss makes Windsor, Colorado one of the best places to live in all of Colorado. And we’re not just saying that. HomeSnacks put it on their list, These Are The 10 Best Places To Live In Colorado For 2019, and it also snagged spots on their Colorado rankings of the safest cities, the fastest growing cities, and the best cities to raise a family.
2. It’s a great place to raise a family.
And we’re clearly not the only ones who think so. In addition to the HomeSnacks ranking mentioned above, Wallethub put Windsor at the top of their list, 2017’s Best Places to Raise a Family in Colorado, with combined scores in the following categories: Family, Life and Fun, Education, Health and Safety, Affordability, and Socioeconomics. Looking at these individual scores, this little community ranked second overall in Education, Health and Safety and sixth in Family, Life and Fun. Keep reading to learn more about the numbers, data and businesses supporting these rankings!
3. The crime rate is low.
Windsor is safer than nearly 60% of all Colorado cities and towns and, when looking just at communities of similar size, its crime rate is still significantly lower than average. Using FBI crime data, the total crime rate is just 10.63 per 1,000 residents and only 0.13 of those were violent crimes. At 10.49, even the property crime rate is nearly 17 points lower than the Colorado average!
4. The local food is some of the best in the state (literally).
Photo courtesy of Chimney Park
Windsor’s most notable restaurant, Chimney Park, isn’t just a locally-recognized restaurant; it’s been ranked in Colorado’s top ten restaurants on OpenTable and is a Distinguished Restaurant of North America award-winning eatery. Their locally sourced menu changes with the seasons and, sometimes, even with the day. Owner and Chef Jason Shaeffer crafts items like Bison Tartare and Charred Spanish Octopus alongside approachable entrées like Truffle Stuffed Pheasant and Glazed Duroc Pork Tenderloin. The restaurant’s new bar and happy hour menu makes it the perfect place for a casual, weekday meal or a special night out!
The Chimney Park team also operates Hearth Restaurant and Pub located right across the street in Downtown Windsor.
5. It’s growing.
In 1999, the population of Windsor was about 8,765. By 2000, it had jumped above 10,000 and has continuously grown ever since. In 2017, the population reached an estimated 25,330 which is nearly a 75% increase since 2010! With these new residents, our community has enjoyed new local businesses, thriving local industries, and a strong housing market, too.
6. The housing market is booming.
Average sales price in the Windsor area has increased every year since 2013, and between 2016 and 2017 that increase was a whopping 11%. As the population continues to grow and the Northern Colorado housing market continues to grow with it, these numbers will likely follow. At an average sales price of $434,242 in 2017, the costs certainly aren’t low, but the promise of growth and appreciation is worth it. Want to see which homes are available right now? Click here.
And to learn more about local and regional housing market data, check out our most current Regional Market Statistics here and our most current Annual Report here.
7. Outdoor recreation is just minutes away.
The Town of Windsor maintains 20 parks and open spaces, including Kodak Wildlife which is a 65-acre open space and the hugely popular Boardwalk Community Park which boasts a beach, boating, dog parks, fishing, a playground, trails and volleyball around Windsor Lake. To learn more about parks, open spaces and recreation programs, check out the Town of Windsor Department of Parks, Recreation & Culture.
8. Local events happen all year long.
One of the largest draws to Windsor every year is their huge calendar of community events which includes some of our favorite happenings in all of Northern Colorado. During the summer, you can enjoy Movies in the Park as well as the Summer Concert Series which occurs at the same time as the weekly Artisan Market. Summer also brings the annual July 4th celebration in Boardwalk Park! During the fall, you can join in the fun at Oktoberfest. Then, celebrate the holidays at Windsor Wonderland.
9. Our community loves local business.
Photo courtesy of Wheel Hub Magazine via Mash Lab Brewing
Windsor is a community built on its agriculture, its family farms, and its local businesses, and it certainly hasn’t been left out of the craft beer, foodie and artsy waves that have hit Northern Colorado recently. Highlights include craft breweries High Hops Brewery, Mash Lab Brewing and Mighty River Brewing Company, coffee shops like The Crooked Cup and Coffee House 29, local spots like Toast Coffee & Wine Bar and newcomers like Windsor Lake Coffee which is a café, bakery and ice cream parlor!
To learn more about Windsor’s local businesses, check out Windsor Downtown Development Authority and the Windsor Chamber of Commerce.
10. The location is ideal.
Windsor is located in the very middle of some of our favorite Colorado towns: Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley. It’s just minutes from each one, an hour from Denver, and an hour from Estes Park and the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. In addition to all the local recreation, restaurants and businesses in town, that puts Windsor within easy reach of some of the state’s most talked about locales.
Looking for more information on Windsor?
You can find current housing market statistics, search homes available right now, and learn more about the community here.
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